Rubber Board tests cultivation in Maharashtra as domestic production remains far below industrial consumption
KOTTAYAM/ Mumbai : India consumes much more natural rubber than it produces. The gap is met largely through imports. To reduce this dependence, the Rubber Board is trying to increase production in two ways — improve productivity in existing plantations and identify new areas suitable for rubber cultivation. Maharashtra is one of the states now under study.
During an interaction with journalists from Maharashtra and Goa at the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), Kottayam, Kerala, Dr. Debabrata Ray, Director, RRII, said the Board is testing rubber cultivation in non-traditional areas and working with universities to study soil, rainfall and climatic conditions. The Board has entered into collaboration with D. Y. Patil Agricultural University, Kolhapur, for feasibility studies in Maharashtra. Under the arrangement, the university provides land, while the Rubber Board provides planting material and technical support. The growth and survival of the plants are monitored over a period of time.
Production-Demand Gap
India produced about 8.75 lakh tonnes of natural rubber in 2024-25, while consumption was around 14.1 lakh tonnes. The gap remains large. In 2023-24, production was 8.57 lakh tonnes, while consumption stood at 14.16 lakh tonnes. Imports during the year were about 4.93 lakh tonnes. The tyre industry remains the biggest consumer of natural rubber.
According to Rubber Board data, the automobile tyre sector accounted for more than two-thirds of natural rubber consumption in 2023-24. India is also among the world’s largest consumers of natural rubber. The question before the Rubber Board is how much of this demand can be met through domestic production.
Maharashtra Under Study
Rubber cultivation in India has traditionally been concentrated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. But the Board has been looking at other states where climatic conditions may support cultivation. During the interaction, scientists said parts of Maharashtra are being studied for this purpose. The focus is on rainfall, soil, temperature, dry period and long-term survival of the plants. The Board is also working with institutions in other non-traditional rubber-growing states. Dr. Ray said expansion cannot be done only by increasing the area under cultivation. Productivity from existing plantations will also have to improve.
Sindhudurg, Palghar Also in Focus
During the interaction, scientists also referred to the possibility of rubber cultivation in parts of coastal Maharashtra. Sindhudurg and Palghar have been identified as areas where climatic conditions may offer potential. The earlier reports from the interaction also referred to Sawantwadi and Dodamarg in Sindhudurg and parts of Palghar. However, large-scale cultivation can be taken up only after technical studies establish that the crop is suitable and economically viable. Rubber is a long-duration crop. Farmers cannot be encouraged to shift land unless returns are reasonably certain.
Also Read: Maharashtra Third-Largest Outside Market for Kerala Tourism, But Far Behind Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
Northeast Model
The Rubber Board has already taken up a much larger expansion programme in the Northeast. Under the INROAD project, rubber cultivation is being expanded with support from the tyre industry. The project aims to bring around two lakh hectares under rubber cultivation in the Northeast. The tyre industry has committed financial support for the programme. The Northeast experience is important because it shows how new cultivation areas are being developed to reduce the gap between domestic production and industrial demand. Maharashtra is still at the feasibility and research stage.
Small Farmers Important
Rubber cultivation in India is largely dependent on small growers. During the interaction, RRII officials said research, training and extension support are therefore important. The Board provides planting material, technical advice, disease-management support, fertiliser recommendations and training. Digital tools are also being developed to provide recommendations based on soil and leaf analysis.
Research Beyond Cultivation
RRII also works on processing and product development. Natural rubber is used not only in tyres but in thousands of industrial and consumer products. Scientists said value addition is equally important. The institute works on different grades of natural rubber, latex-based products and industrial applications. Research is also being carried out to develop planting material suitable for different climatic conditions.
Will Maharashtra Make a Difference?
Maharashtra will not bridge India’s natural rubber deficit immediately. The studies are still at an early stage. But the reason behind the exercise is clear. India’s demand for natural rubber is much higher than its domestic production. Imports fill a substantial part of this gap. If parts of Maharashtra prove suitable for commercial rubber cultivation, the state could become one of the new areas contributing to domestic production.
The real test will be whether the crop can survive Maharashtra’s climatic conditions, give farmers viable returns and contribute meaningfully to reducing the country’s dependence on imported natural rubber.
Kerala Plans More Aggressive Overseas Marketing
Tourism Secretary K. Biju said Kerala plans to intensify its international marketing as foreign tourist arrivals remain below the pre-Covid peak. He said Kerala has maintained its own tourism brand for nearly three decades and regularly participates in roadshows and major international travel fairs. According to him, the state often maintains a separate Kerala Tourism presence at global events to protect and strengthen the brand.
Biju also acknowledged that Malabar has not been marketed as strongly as southern Kerala and said the government plans greater promotion of northern Kerala’s beaches and relatively less-explored destinations.
Tourist Growth Is Creating New Pressures
Biju said rising visitor numbers are also putting pressure on established destinations, particularly Munnar, where carrying capacity has become a concern. He said the government is examining ways to spread tourist movement across a wider area instead of allowing excessive concentration at a few locations.
On Kerala’s backwaters, he spoke about eutrophication, pollution and the difficulty of restoring large water bodies. He also referred to efforts to encourage cleaner technologies in the houseboat sector, including solar and hydrogen fuel-cell alternatives.
Biju said Kerala Tourism’s strategy rests on three pillars — infrastructure, tourism products and marketing — but acknowledged that the department has limited funds for large destination-level interventions and is exploring other sources of investment. Ayurveda, wellness, eco-tourism and forest-based experiences, he said, remain important areas for future tourism growth.
